Loop Heat Pipe Grooved Vapor and Liquid Pipes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in loop heat pipes is that when the pipes connecting the evaporator and condenser are bent, compressive and tensile stresses are generated, leading to potential blocking or closing of the pipes, which prevents the loop heat pipe from functioning properly.
Innovation Solution
A loop heat pipe design featuring a stacked structure with metal layers forming an evaporator, condenser, vapor pipe, and liquid pipe, where the vapor and liquid pipes have grooves on their outer surfaces extending linearly along their width direction to absorb deformation caused by bending, preventing pipe closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pipes connecting the evaporator and condenser are bent to adjust height position, then the loop heat pipe can be accommodated in electronic devices with different configurations, but compressive and tensile stresses are generated causing the pipes to be blocked or closed
Solution Approach 1:
The pipe is designed with a grooved structure on its outer surface, creating a flexible-like behavior that allows bending without closure. The grooves enable the pipe wall to deform elastically during bending while maintaining the internal passage open, effectively allowing height adjustment without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer surface of the pipe is segmented into multiple grooves that divide the continuous pipe wall into sections. This segmentation allows localized deformation in each groove region during bending, distributing the stress and preventing overall pipe closure while enabling the necessary height position adjustment.
2Ease of manufacture
If the pipe wall is made thinner to reduce manufacturing complexity, then the manufacturing process becomes easier, but the pipe becomes more susceptible to blocking when bent
Solution Approach 1:
The grooved structure on the pipe outer surface creates a flexible shell effect that compensates for thinner wall thickness. The grooves allow the pipe to bend without the thin wall collapsing, maintaining reliability while enabling simpler manufacturing with thinner, easier-to-form materials.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design allows the loop heat pipe to maintain a large cross-sectional flow passage area and prevent fluid resistance increases even when bent, ensuring effective heat transfer and preventing pipe blockage.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporator for absorbing the heat of a heat generating component, a vapor pipe for guiding the vapor generated in the evaporator toward the condenser
Implementation Method 2
a condenser for liquefying the vapor generated in the evaporator, a liquid pipe for guiding the liquid generated in the condenser toward the evaporator
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A loop heat pipe includes a stacked structure formed by metal layers that are stacked, including an outermost metal layer arranged at one outermost surface of the loop heat pipe. The stacked structure forms an evaporator configured to vaporize a working fluid and generate vapor, a condenser configured to liquefy the vapor of the working fluid, a vapor pipe configured to connect the evaporator and the condenser, and a liquid pipe configured to connect the evaporator and the condenser, to form a loop-shaped passage. The outermost metal layer has an outer surface formed with grooves.